Ross Barkley is running out of time to establish himself at Chelsea, according to Arsenal legend Paul Merson.

The midfielder arrived at Stamford Bridge from fellow Premier League outfit in the January transfer window, but has struggled to hold down a regular place in the side under Antonio Conte.

His debut came as a substitute in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg defeat against the Gunners back in January and then featured in the two subsequent matches against Newcastle United and Bournemouth.

However, those remain the England international's only senior appearances for the Blues thus far as he spent over a month on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

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Since recovering, Barkley has been an unused substitute in each of the west London outfit's last four games across all competitions and was overlooked in favour of Tiemoue Bakayoko in the 1-0 win over Swansea City last weekend.

With uncertainty surrounding Conte's future at the club, Merson is fearing the worst for Barkley.

Barkley warms up at Swansea City (Image: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images))

"He is running out of time to resurrect his career," Merson told the Daily Star. "His move to Chelsea has been a disaster and it needs to click for him quickly now or he’ll be forgotten.

"I’m a big fan of his but it’s a strange one. He’s a No 10, and when I played, you didn’t start playing in that position until you were 27 or 28. ‘It’s the hardest position on the pitch.

"I know because I’ve done it. You’ve got to make things happen and you’re always under the microscope. It’s a pressure position.

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"But he’s not playing there for Chelsea and you have to wonder if he ever will. He’s been stuck out wide there and he needs a free role in my opinion.

"If a new manager comes in with a different system he might get a chance next season."

Ross Barkley (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Barkley will be hoping for some game time in Chelsea's final four games of the campaign.

They face Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, before rounding off the league season against Huddersfield Town and Newcastle United next weekend and then there's the FA Cup final meeting with Manchester United on May 19.

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